Marion to weigh options for Town House

Monday

Apr 29, 2013 at 12:01 AM

MARION — The committee researching whether to renovate or replace the town office building has given selectmen three options and a request to hire a project manager to oversee the project's next phase.

MICHAEL J. DECICCO

MARION — The committee researching whether to renovate or replace the town office building has given selectmen three options and a request to hire a project manager to oversee the project's next phase.

After more than a year of study and discussion, the Town House Advisory Committee told selectmen last week that the options all avoid demolishing the circa 1877 building.

Committee Chairman Frank Ryder noted that a Sept. 20 meeting seeking public input revealed a majority of residents do not want the historic building torn down.

The committee's recommended options are:

To completely renovate and reorganize the entire building to provide modern functional space for town hall operations and other town functions as space permits. To renovate, reorganize and modernize only the circa-1877 main entrance portion that faces Front Street. The circa-1890 portion that faces Main Street and currently includes the selectmen's meeting room would be demolished and a new structure built there. To build a new town office building on another site and then explore options for changing the use of the current town hall that could include selling it to a developer.

Ryder added the committee also recommends a Town Meeting warrant article to hire an Owner's Project Manager to more fully study the feasibility and cost of each option.

Selectmen said that recommendation is covered in an article on this spring's annual Town Meeting warrant, which proposes funding $100,000 for "designer services" to complete a feasibility study of the options.

Selectman Jonathan Henry said he completely agrees with the advisory committee's conclusions. "To me, tearing down this building is not an option," he said.

Both boards then agreed to add a fourth option for consideration. This would be to construct an addition that would attach the Town House to the Elizabeth Taber Library, allowing town hall and the library to consolidate computer resources and open up space for Council on Aging activities.

They also agreed the next phase will include creating concept designs of all the options then choosing the right one based on economic feasibility.